Canberra jail's $54 million expansion to better separate prisoners

There has been significant growth in detainee numbers at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) over the past 15 months, with a rapid surge last year forcing a temporary expansion from 332 to 366 beds.

Corrections Minister Shane Rattenbury says two new accommodation blocks will be built to house up to 142 beds.

He says that will accommodate both current prisoner numbers and projected increases.

"The new design is all about flexibility. It's about maximising the ability to separate prisoners, to have a high level of segregation which has been the key issue at the AMC," he said.

"It's also designed in a way where extra beds can be added at short notice if required."

Mr Rattenbury says the Government is also working on new strategies to reduce reoffending and slow the growing prison population.

"The AMC already has a range of programs and services aimed at reducing recidivism, such as the Throughcare program, which provides support to detainees as they reintegrate into society," he said.

"To enhance this agenda, I will be working with the Attorney-General to develop a justice reform strategy, including justice reinvestment proposals, to provide viable long-term solutions to improving crime reduction outcomes for the ACT."

But the Canberra Liberals say the expansion is the result of poor planning and mismanagement by the Government.

Opposition spokesman Andrew Wall says the extra beds will only address current overcrowding.

"Today's announcement is wholly and solely to address the overcrowding issues that the jail faces and doesn't take into consideration too much capacity building for the future," he said.

"It was never designed to be a facility operating in this fashion."

Mr Wall says the jail was prematurely opened for political gain during the 2008 ACT election.

"The Government is now spending $54 million to take the jail to a capacity which was recommended more than a decade before it was built," he said.

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